Kaleidoscope



May 5, 1964 H. B. GRow KALEIDoscoPE Filed Dec. 27.1961

' INVENTOR. Har/ow B. Grow ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,131,593 KALEIDOSCOPE Harlow B. Grow, 16530 Chattanooga Place, Pacific Palisades, Calif. Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,413 3 Claims. (Cl. 88-15) l This invention relates to kaleidoscopes, particularly the type employing three mirror elements, and has tor its principal object to provide a simplified construction and support of the mirror elements in accurate permanent assembly within the tube of the kaleidoscope.

Three-mirror kaleidoscopes are desirable, but they have not been in widespread use because of difficulty in accurately grouping and supportingythree mirror elements. For example, it has been proposed to form the mirrors from a thin sheet of mirror material divided into three panels of equal widthI by parallel scores and folding thereof on the scores to bring the side edges of the sheet together for retention by the tubular casing, when the mirror elements are placed therein. However, such construction has not been successful because the material does not bend accurately along both scores and the side edges will not entirely close yalong the length thereof. Also, there was no simple means to retain the edges in properly xed registry, even should the bends be accurately produced.

With this in mind, I llave provided a method of form- `ing the mirrors and accurately retaining them in assembly within the tubular casing of the kaleidoscope in a simple and easy manner.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a Aquality instrument that can be inexpensively produced, so that it may be sold Iat lovv cost, and to provide a mirror assembly capable of producing more intricate and interesting patterns.

In accomplishing these and otherobjects ofthe invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a kaleidoscope constructed land assembled in accordance with the present invention, a part of the tubular casing being. broken away to better illustrate the construction of the mirror unit.

FIG 2 is a longitudinal section through the kaleidoscope taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the parts composing the `mirror unit, shown in disassembled, spaced apart relation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarge-d cross section on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a similar cross sectional view through a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view 'of one of the supports employed in the modiied form of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

Referring more in detail 'to the drawing, and first to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l to 4 inclusive:

1 designates a preferred form of kaleidoscope constructed and assembled in accordance with the present invention. The kaleidoscope comprises a cylindrical tubular casing 2, having an eyepiece 3 at one end and a ring 4 at the opposite end. The ring 4 supports a transparent disk 5 and a removable capsule 6 for containing the fragments to produce symmetrical patterns when the kaleidoscope is in use.

Positioned within the tubular casing 2 is a mirror assembly 7, having mirror surf-aces 8, 9 and 10 of equal elective dimensions and arranged uniformly about the axis of tfhe tubular casing, with the reecting surfaces positioned on 60 angles with respect to each other. The

3,131,593 Patented May 5, 1964 lCC mirror assembly is composed of two parts 11 and 12 secured together and axially positioned within the casing by spaced apart supporting members 13 and v14.

The tubular casing 2 may be formed of any suitable material, such as a cylindrical cardboard tube or the like, having the desired length and diameter to contain the mirror assembly including the supporting. members 13 and 14. The eyepiece 3 comprises va disk 15 having an axial Aaperture 16. The disk 15 also Ihas a peripheral ilange 17 inset within the open end of the tube and which terminates in an outwardly directed flange 18 that as crimped against the body of the casing, as indicated at 19. 'Ilhe ring 4 is of similar construction, but has a larger axial opening 201 to expose the capsule 6 and provide -an annular ledge Q1 to support the 'transparent disk 5. yIlle ring 4 also has a peripheral ilange 22 inset within the other open end of the tube and which has yan outwardly directed llange -23 secured to the outer face of the tubular casing by a crimp 24.

The construction of the capsule 6 @forms no part of the present invention, but is shown as a hollow body 25 having an annular shoulder 2.6 to provide an attaching portion 27 that is pressed into the ring `4 to retain the capsule on the end of =the tubular casing. The capsule also lhas an internal chamber 2li` `for containing various fragments and materials for composing the kaleidoscopic patterns when the kaleidoscope is in use.

In accordance with the present invention, the part 11 of the mirror assembly 7 includes a flat strip of sheet material, such as aluminum of light gauge but sutiiciently rigid to retain its dat shape. 'Ilhe part |11 of the mirror assembly has parallel side edges 30 :and 31 and end edges 32 and 33 arranged to abut against the disk portion of the eyepiece 3 and against the transparent disk '5. The part =11 has la plane -reecting portion to provide the mirror surface 8, to cooperate with the mirror portions 9 and 10 of the mirror part 12.

The mirror part 12 is [also formed of la strip of material which may be Ialuminum or the like, having parallel side edges `34 and 3S and a median longitudinal bend 36, to provide fiat diverging planar wings 37 and 38, diverging on fan angle of The planar `Wings 37 and 38 are of equal rwidth md the edges 34 and 35 are spaced apart a -distanc'e eqn-alto the width of one of the Wings, so that portions 37 'and |38, consequently, since the edges 34 and 315 ,and told or bend v36 4are parallel, they will automatically provide angles of 60 when they yare in effect capped by the Iwider nn'rror part 11, and the edges 314 and 3-5 will seat the part 111 throughout .the length thereof.

In order to retainthe mirror parts in contacting relationship, the supporting members 13 and 14 comprise disklilte bodies which may Ibe formed of cardboard or suitable material and which have an outer diameter to be snugly slidable within the tubular casing 2. Each of the supporting members 1113 and 14 have inner triangular openings 39 fand d() of generally eqnilateral shape .to pro- Vide edges 41, 42 land 43 for closely engaging and backing the outer faces of Ithe, mirror par-ts 11 and 12. In order to accommodate the projecting edges 30 and 31 of the mirror part lll, each triangular opening 39 and 40' has slots |44 and -415 projecting outward-ly therefrom a-t the ends of the edge 41, as best shown in FIG. 3.

In lassembling the kaleidoscope, the mirror parts :11 land 12 are brought together 'with the'mirror surface-s thereof in facing relation and'vvith the'edges 30 and 311 projecting equal distances from Vthe edges '314 and 3'5 'of the |mirror part 12 so that the marginal portions seat thereon.r The supporting members or disks land 14 are then slid over the ends of the assembled mirror parts, Iwith the ends of the assembled parts sliding through the triangular openings '39 and 2411', with the projecting edges 730 and 311 sliding through the slots `44 and 415. When nie supporting members are in place, 'the mirror elements are encompassed by and are bound by the tight lit within the y'openings S9-40. When thus retained, the effective mirror surfaces thereof arer all of equal Width and the angle-s therebetween are identical, name-1y, 601 with respect to each other. The mirror yassembly thus formed is pushed through one end of Vthe tubular casing 2, after which the transparent disk is moved through one end of the tube to seat against the ends of theV mirror parts 11 and 12. VThe eyepiece '3 and rintg'llare then applied so that the ring 4 seats against the transparent disk and the 4disk portion of the eyepiece 3 seats against the opposite Yends of v the mirror parts; The outwardly extending iii-anges areV then crimped over the outer face ot the tubular casing, as sho'wn'at l18 and 2e, F162.

In the onrn of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the mirror parts are identical in shape with the mirror parts 1111 and -12 of the form of the' invention just described, with the exception that the effective surfacesthereof are of greater Width by reason of the type of supporting members 46 employed in this form of the invention. In this `fform of the invention, the supporting members '46 comprise segments of circular disks having V-shaped notches `\47 conforming lwithythe outer faces' of the Vdivengng plane portions ot the mirror part 11,2', to` cooperate with the strip Vmirror part 11v in retaining vthe mirror elements in concentric relation Within the tubular casing .2', the sup# porting members 46 being llattened aslat 47 and 48 to abut against the end ofthe strip, as best shown in FIG. 5. lIn this form of the invention, ,the supporting members 46 are lapplied over the diverging portions of the mirror part 12 so that the :flattened portions 47 and'48 register with the side edges 30 and 311'. .The strip is then placed in posi-tion against the side edges 34 and 3S of the mirror part 12' and the entire assembly is slid into `one end of the tubular casing, When in. position in the tube, the support members firmly bind the mirror'parts in their yproper coaxial relation therein, because of the relatively tight kt of the supporting members in the tubular casing and by theffact that the edges of the uiirnor pant 11 are clamped between the edges l47-48 of the supports and the curved side of the casing 2. The eyepiece and capsuie retaining ring at the opposite ends of the tubular 'casing are of the same construction and secured in the same manner as previously described. Kaleidoscopes constructed and assembled as described are easily manufactured iwith inexpensive parts and readily assexnbled with accuracy when the parts are Vbrought into assembly, so that a high quality, threemiirror kaleidoscope may be supplied at low cost. Y

The ykaleidoscope is used in the manner of any kaleidoscope by placing the eye to the eyepiece and holding the capsule end in the light. The kaleidoscope is then turned on its longitudinal axis to cause the fragments in the capsule to present variously changing intricate patterns when images thereof are reflected in the mirrors.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A kaleidoscope including Y a cylindrical casing having an eye piece at one end and a capsule containing fragments at the other end, and

a mirror assembly extending longitudinally 'within the cylindrical casing from the eye piece to the capsule,

said mirror assembly comprising a strip of sheet material having a rellectingsurface on one face side Vand having ya longitudinalA median fold to provide wings diverging from said Vfold on the rellecting iace side rand forming angularly facing mirror portions having free longitudinal outer Yedges providing parallel seats spaced apart from each other in correspondence with the width of said mirnor portions,

a second strip of sheet `material having a similar reflecting surface with marginal sides of the reilectmg surface thereof lapping-said seats to provide a third mirror pontion ofthe size of thelinst mirror portions to cooper-ate with the lirst mirror portions in rellecting images of said fragments in a symmetrical patf tern about the axis of the cylindrical casing, and

' disk members elosay'aung transversely Winn ne cylindrical casing neat` said' eyepiece Vand capsule respectively with outer peripheral portions closely engaging the cylindrical casing and having inner edges engaging said strips of sheet material to hold the mirror portions thereof in xed 'symmetrical as- 'sembly about the axis of said 'cylindrical casing.

2. A kaleidoscope as described in claim 1, Y

in which said Wings of lthe firstV strip and said second strip are arranged on chordal planes extending through the cylindrical casing with the longitudinal fold of .the rst strip and 'edges of the second strip spaced from the inner circumferential face of the cylindrical casing, and

the disk members are of a size to nt transversely within the cylindrical casingand each disk member has a triangularopening to provide the inner edges for backing said strips of sheet material.

y 3. A kaleidoscope as described in claim 1,

wherein s'aid edges of the second strip project a sufiicient distance from said 'seats to engage the inner sur-tace off'said cylindrical casing, and

the disk'members each have a notch to provide the backing for said wings 'of the folded strip and to cooperate with the projecting edges of the second strip in holding the mirror portions in'lixed symmetrical assembly about the axis off the cylindrical casing.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED ySTATES PATENTS 862,438 l Boehm, l t Aug. 6, 1907 1,010,808 Scheu'er l 'Dec. 5, 1911 1,294,967 Stabia Feb. 18, l9l9 1,485,795 Mallernee M-ar. 4, 1924 2,454,577 Smith Nov. 23, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 331,441 i Germany May 21, 1920 

1. A KALEIDOSCOPE INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL CASING HAVING AN EYE PIECE AT ONE END AND A CAPSULE CONTAINING FRAGMENTS AT THE OTHER END, AND A MIRROR ASSEMBLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN THE CYLINDRICAL CASING FROM THE EYE PIECE TO THE CAPSULE, SAID MIRROR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A STRIP OF SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A REFLECTING SURFACE ON ONE FACE SIDE AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL MEDIAN FOLD TO PROVIDE WINGS DIVERGING FROM SAID FOLD ON THE REFLECTING FACE SIDE AND FORMING ANGULARLY FACING MIRROR PORTIONS HAVING FREE LONGITUDINAL OUTER EDGES PROVIDING PARALLEL SEATS SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE WIDTH OF SAID MIRROR PORTIONS, A SECOND STRIP OF SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A SIMILAR REFLECTING SURFACE WITH MARGINAL SIDES OF THE REFLECTING SURFACE THEREOF LAPPING SAID SEATS TO PROVIDE A THIRD MIRROR PORTION OF THE SIZE OF THE FIRST MIRROR PORTIONS TO COOPERATE WITH THE FIRST MIRROR PORTIONS IN REFLECTING IMAGES OF SAID FRAGMENTS IN A SYMMETRICAL PATTERN ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDRICAL CASING, AND DISK MEMBERS CLOSELY FITTING TRANSVERSELY WITHIN THE CYLINDRICAL CASING NEAR SAID EYE PIECE AND CAPSULE RESPECTIVELY WITH OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTIONS CLOSELY ENGAGING THE CYLINDRICAL CASING AND HAVING INNER EDGES ENGAGING SAID STRIPS OF SHEET MATERIAL TO HOLD THE MIRROR PORTIONS THEREOF IN FIXED SYMMETRICAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL CASING. 